...The Great Gatsby “The loneliest moment in someone’s life is when they are watching their whole world fall apart, and all they can do is stare blankly.” In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald presents his audience with a novel with intricate symbolism. Nick Carroway, the protagonist, has recently moved from the Midwest to get his career started in New York. He lives on the island of West Egg the poorer side of town, across from East Egg the wealthier side of town. In East Egg are where his pompous and snobbish friends Tom and Daisy live. They gossip and party a lot, all while Tom is cheating on Daisy with a lady named Myrtle Wilson. Everyone knows except for Daisy and Mr. Wilson. Meanwhile, Nick lives next door to a mysterious man named Gatsby, who throws extravagant parties, but yet no one knows anything about him. Throughout the book Nick learns about the mysterious Gatsby and what it is like to live around people who believe in a conceited world of indecency. Fitzgerald involves symbolism into the heart of the novel so strongly that it is necessary to read passages of the book more than once to full understand. The creative yet simplistic styling of this book is a major reason why The Great Gatsby is one of the classics of the 20th century. Throughout the book, three themes dominate the text of The Great Gatsby. These themes include the loss of time, appearance and characterization, and perspective. The word time appears many times in the novel either by itself or in a...
Words: 1689 - Pages: 7
...The Great Gatsby (Novel) Author Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald Purpose To show the author’s conflicting feelings about the Jazz Age Relationship with the Author and the Characters Fitzgerald and Carraway Thoughtful young man from Minnesota Educated at an Ivy League school Moves to NYC after the war Found the new extravagant lifestyle seductive and exciting Fitzgerald and Gatsby Idolizes wealth and luxury Falls in love with a beautiful young woman while at military camp Narrator Nick Carraway; he also implies that he is the book’s author Point of View Both first and third person Presents only what he himself observes Tone Ambivalent and contradictory; sometimes he seems to disapprove Gatsby, and sometimes he romanticizes and admires Gatsby, describing events in nostalgic and elegiac tone Background Year written: 1925 (the Jazz Age) American economy soared; great prosperity for majority Prohibition (18th Amendment in 1919) ‘bootleggers’ Money is everything Plot Nick Carraway moves from Minnesota to New York (West Egg) to learn about bond business West Egg: wealthy and fashionable area; where the “New Rich” live Nick has social connections with East Egg, where the “Old Rich” live Nick’s classmate at Yale, Tom Buchanan, lives with Nick’s cousin Daisy in East Egg Tom has a lover, Myrtle Wilson, in the Valley of Ashes Valley of Ashes is a gray industrial dumping ground At one party, Nick breaks...
Words: 863 - Pages: 4
...every problem they encounter. Jay Gatsby, a main character in Great Gatsby The was one of these people. Gatsby and other characters of his class all strived for happiness, wealth, status and love. To their dismay, they realized that the desire for wealth could lead to their downfall. Through Gatsby, Fitzgerald proves that the pursuit of wealth is corruptive, useless and dangerous. The old money crowd’s actions make the pursuit for wealth danger. The people of this crowd were born into their wealth which makes them careless. They don’t have to worry about consequences and whatever they want they get. The characters of this novel, Daisy and Tom, are a part of this crowd. They have no regard for other people or empathy. Daisy killed Myrtle in a car accident but didn’t get punished as a normal person would. Instead, Gatsby said he’ll take the blame for her and Daisy left with Tom. For example, it says “I called up Daisy half an hour after we found him, called her instinctively and without hesitation. But she and Tom had gone away early that afternoon, and taken baggage with them”(164). Daisy realized she cannot be with Gatsby because his wealth is illegal and won’t protect and secure her like Tom does. Wilson asked Tom who was in the car that killed Myrtle, Tom said Gatsby, because it was his car, which ...
Words: 801 - Pages: 4
...The Great Gatsby ‘’The Great Gatsby’’ is a Charles Scribner's Son novel based on tragedy . The novel was published in 1925 in NYC . Nick Carraway the novel narrator , explain with details how he was living in this time , including his point of view of the things that happen on his environment . is As a ‘’Modernism’’ novel great Gatsby is a non poetic story based on the search of truth and identity . The great Gatsby is an amazing novel that tells the life of Nick Carraway who travel to New York. Nick wants to be a professional writer . He believed that these time of his life would be success full . On his journal nick tells that the begging he was very happy to be in New York. He was gaining good money, attracting women and the fame was very good. "The Great Gatsby provides a critical social history of America during the Roaring Twenties within its narrative. That era, known for unprecedented economic prosperity, the evolution of jazz music, flapperculture, and bootlegging and other criminal activity, is plausibly depicted in Fitzgerald's novel." (Bruccoli, Matthew Joseph). He has a cousin called Daisy who already were living in New York. She was married to a rich man whose name was Tom Buchanan a popular polo player . Nick doesn't know how his cousin was living. He asked her and she told him that every thing is good.The first thing he realized was that his Cousin Daisy was living a nightmare being married with Tom, he was unfaithful and abusive but she kept...
Words: 1362 - Pages: 6
...The Great Gatsby Final I personally liked the book a lot better because I feel that it told the story better and also had some extra things in there that made the story more exciting. The movie did a better job with enhancing particular parts in the story like the green light, it would show the green light every time that Gatsby wasn’t with Daisy. I guess you could say it showed a kinda sense of loneliness to Gatsby. The movie also did some things that didn’t really make sense to what they explained in the book. In the book they described Myrtle as this poor woman and that she didn’t dress as well as Tom wanted her too so he would go out and buy her a new outfit, but in the movie when they introduce her she is in pretty nice clothing and her make up and hair is all done. I think that they could have done a better job with making her look more poor when they first introduced her. Apathy of the wealthy means that they wealthy just kinda didn’t care. They lack interest in everyone else they lack concern and enthusiasm. The wealthy in the book “The Great Gatsby” just drink and not many of them care about anything besides themselves for example Tom. He just cares about drinking and have a “good time.” He doesn’t treat his wife or Myrtle right, infact he beats Myrtle. Today I still think that some of the really wealthy people are sort of selfish. Maybe not as much as in the movie/book but they are still kinda selfish and think that they are better than everyone else because...
Words: 601 - Pages: 3
...end of The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway made the final statement of the book saying "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." Which I believe means we move on in life continually and we always have to push our way forward, move against the current, and don't dwell or bring back the past because you will get carried back to the past such as a boat moves across the current, it requires constant moving forward to prevent drifting backwards. Gatsby started off with nothing but a big set of goals and dreams, he pushed his way to get to that goal leaving his past behind only worrying about the future and when he finally obtained his goal he got caught up and started to think about the past with Daisy and he ended up meeting her and getting emotions for her again. Leaving all his achievements behind him and he basically fell back when all the truth came to the surface about his past and people lowered the respect they had for him. All of Gatsby's failures are due to the fact of Daisy coming back into his life and the dedication of time he gave to her made him get off of his track to success and lose thought of the other things going on in his life. He lost his motivation and drive to become something more or bigger than he already has become. I personally think maybe he was just feeling content with just Daisy to where he didn't want to become anything more. Nick was basically the neutral water in The Great Gatsby; he always...
Words: 619 - Pages: 3
...Analysis of “Materialistic Perception” in F. Scot Fitzgerald Using Marxist Literary Criticism Chapter I 1.1 Introduction The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel written by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald that follows a cast of characters living in the fictional town of West Egg on prosperous Long Island in the summer of 1922. The story primarily concerns the young and mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his quixotic passion for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. Considered to be Fitzgerald's magnum opus, The Great Gatsby explores themes of decadence, idealism, resistance to change, social upheaval, and excess, creating a portrait of the Jazz Age that has been described as a cautionary tale regarding the American Dream. 1.2 State of Problem The Great Gatsby provides a critical social history of America during the Roaring Twenties within its narrative. That era, known for unprecedented economic prosperity, the evolution of jazz music, flapper culture, and bootlegging and other economy struggle that was the result of the materialism and capitalism damaging on social behavior, led to the widespread social distress. 1.3 Theoretical Framework Using literary criticism to interpret what is the ideal life of America in 19th century and what is the dream of American people after World War I. as a Marxist interpretation of the novel makes especially clear, reveals its dark underbelly instead. Through its unflattering characterization of those at the top of the...
Words: 6033 - Pages: 25
...In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays the 1920s in America as an era of “decayed social and moral values,” evidenced in its greed and pursuit of pleasure. The reckless elation and enthusiasm that led to wild parties and jazz (like the extravagant, over-the-top parties Gatsby throws in the novel) resulted in the corruption of the American dream. The American dream was originally about discovery, individualism, and the pursuit of happiness, and the desire for money and status have corrupted this dream, as it has Gatsby’s. The Great Gatsby is a symbolic contemplation of America in the 1920s regarding the collapse of the American dream in an era of prosperity and wealth. The ending of World War I in 1918 soon led to Prohibition and the Jazz Age, which was a period of fun and carelessness for young Americans. Like Gatsby, even a person from the lower class could potentially make a fortune, but the American aristocracy (old wealth) looked down upon the “newly rich.” In the novel, the East Egg and West Egg were the homes to the two separate classes of wealth, the East populating the old wealth (such as the Buchanans) and the West populating the newly rich (Gatsby). In this society, simply being wealthy wasn’t always good enough; people made distinct separation even in the upper class. Gatsby had always admired the luxury and sophistication that wealth could bring. He preferred to be around those with wealth and class, like when he joined Dan Cody on his yacht and when...
Words: 610 - Pages: 3
..."The Great Gatsby" is based on a 1925 novel of the same title, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Given what you have read in the textbook, does the film effectively portray life in the 1920s? Why or why not? The Great Gatsby was a real journey back into the 1920’s during the times of the” Roaring Twenties. The movie was an extremely accurate portrayal of life in the 1920s. The Great Gatsby showed the economic prosperity in the urban communities among the rich and wealthy. The setting of the movies décor was very accurate from the dapper dressing of the men in pinstripes suits, silk shirts, and pinstripe suits for the men. The women in the Great Gatsby wore the sleek colorful dresses and skirts along with dazzling hair and head accessories. The Great Gatsby showed a scene that showed the backdrop of the ballroom for the parties that was the best example of the 1920s. The Great Gatsby ballroom was the size of three or four houses together with the multiple levels opening up to grandiose dancing areas. The ceiling was glittering with sparkling lights that looked like white bubbles, lights, ornaments, exotic chandeliers, and beautiful greenery. The Great Gatsby dancing, singing and music was right out the of the 1920s jazz age. The movie soundtrack was a trip into the pass with all the Jazz Greats playing their songs from the 1920’s from Louis Armstrong, Johnny Dobbs and King Oliver and many other jazz musicians. The Great Gatsby movie set was the perfect example of the real life...
Words: 779 - Pages: 4
...and accomplishment. F Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, is an effective critique on the corruption that surrounds the American Dream. It is also a commentary on the warped view of Western hedonism and idealized lifestyles. The dream is portrayed strongly through the characters, depicting undignified ways to obtain wealth, the amoral social interactions and the illusion of affection and false fellowship. Thus exposing the unscrupulousness, self-absorption and disillusionment that lie at the wake of the American Dream. Fitzgerald critiques on the ideal of ‘self-made’ men (financially) and how through sheer desperation, men stray from conformity and followed a deviated path in order to reach wealth. The American Dream is the belief that regardless of one’s socio-economic background, an individual could still reach financial triumph through hard work, education and drive-which has been the belief of the American society. According to American sociologist Robert K. Merton, American society has generated common desires and pressures for material possession-which is how success was measured- those who fail to succeed by conformity or valid means, resort to devious acts to do so. Fitzgerald comments on this aspect of his society through the portrayal of Gatsby in the novel; who employed unorthodox ways of obtaining wealth in order to gain his incommunicable desire for Daisy’s affection. His illegal background was hinted by Gatsby himself: “… You see, I carry on a little business...
Words: 1195 - Pages: 5
...In the first chapter of ‘’The Great Gatsby’’ Daisy was talking to Nick about her daughter and she says ‘’I hope she’ll be a fool- that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.’’ I believe that this quote describes Daisy because, it shows that she is intelligent and she knows that there is no longer any value of being intelligent woman anymore. In the third chapter of the story Nick made a statement about Gatsby and he said ‘’He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in your life.’’ This describes Nick’s character because, it shows that he is the type of person that can read people really well just by a simple gesture. In chapter seven when Gatsby and Daisy’s affair was revealed, Tom says ‘’I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr.Nobody from nowhere make love to your wife, well, if that’s the idea you can count me out.’’ This quote shows describes Tom because, it shows that he is a hypocrite , and he cannot take what he gives. He cheats on Daisy but when he finds out that Daisy is cheating on him he is upsets and is shocked as if he is not doing the same exact thing to her. This always shows that he is in a way jealous of Gatsby. Also, in chapter three Gatsby and Nick have a short conversation at the end of it, Gatsby says to him ‘’If you want anything just ask for it, old sport’’. This shows that Gatsby is a well-mannered gentleman and that...
Words: 293 - Pages: 2
...The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Download free eBooks of classic literature, books and novels at Planet eBook. Subscribe to our free eBooks blog and email newsletter. Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her; If you can bounce high, bounce for her too, Till she cry ‘Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover, I must have you!’ —THOMAS PARKE D’INVILLIERS The Great Gatsby Chapter 1 I n my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since. ‘Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.’ He didn’t say any more but we’ve always been unusually communicative in a reserved way, and I understood that he meant a great deal more than that. In consequence I’m inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and also made me the victim of not a few veteran bores. The abnormal mind is quick to detect and attach itself to this quality when it appears in a normal person, and so it came about that in college I was unjustly accused of being a politician, because I was privy to the secret griefs of wild, unknown men. Most of the confidences were unsought—frequently I have feigned sleep, preoccupation, or a hostile levity when I realized by some unmistakable sign that an intimate revelation was quivering on the horizon—for the intimate...
Words: 49879 - Pages: 200
...The Great Gatsby : Investigating the novel refers to links on www.crossref-it.info Who might we want to criticise in this novel? Of whom might Nick be critical? Do they fit the criteria of not having ‘the advantages that you’ve had’? Do you assume that the ‘advantages’ are monetary? What other kinds of advantage might there be? ‘he meant a great deal more than that.’ What more do you think Nick’s father meant? Could the idea of criticism be extended to include literary criticism or interpretation? Look more closely at the characters of Daisy and Tom. At the end of the novel, Nick comments that they are ‘careless people’. Can you find any evidence showing them to be careless or corrupt? Does this comment extend to Jordan or Nick himself? Consider the structure of this chapter – how does Nick order his recollections and his thoughts here? What narrative devices does he use? Investigating Chapter 2 List the different aspects of Chapter 2 which are concerned with religion. What are the differences between the party at Tom’s flat and the other parties in the novel? Nick observes several betrayals in this chapter – which do you find the most shocking and why? ‘I knew he was below me….But if I hadn’t met Chester, he’d of got me sure.’ How does Mrs McKee’s comment reflect on the marriage of Daisy and Tom? Fitzgerald is here depicting the poorer members of American society – why do you think he chooses to give Wilson the occupation of repairing cars? List...
Words: 1220 - Pages: 5
...There was a clear combination of the people that went to the party, high society people with lots of money, people with much less money and new rich people. Gatsby ´s party was the result of an intense preparation made buy Gatsbys servants. There was a huge amount of the finest food around, tons of alcohol was served and of course that was not problem at all for there was a transport system for the wasted fellows. This was the perfect place for people to show all their finest suites, it was the place where lights and colors gleamed until daylight, when the last guests left the party. It is amazing how people arrived to the party without being invited, they arrived to the mansion, drunk it all, create a huge mess and then left, these where all people who hide themselves under bright colorful dresses, identity was not an important fact at the mansion for it was impossible to determine how people really where due to the shallowness of them, but this was of no concern to the host for he was never around. As I said people got drunk a created a terrible mess for the servants to clean the day after. What happened outside the manor was really a show, people dancing inside the pool, others puking in the bushes, some others trying not to be seen when they consumed drugs, but for our controvert journalist that was impossible for he was very concerned about everything that happened in the party. What might have seemed as the dream party was just...
Words: 376 - Pages: 2
...The Great Gatsby Characters Nick in Chapter one I just arrived in New York City where I hope to get a good chance to expand knowledge on bond business by working here. It is not such a bad place and I have even rented a house in one of the greatest side of the town known as West Egg it is located in Long Island. This is the area where the people who have recently become rich are living because they are connected enough to live in the East Egg where the people families that have been rich for years live. It should be noted that though I live here in west egg I have great connections with people on east egg and my cousin daisy lives there and she is trying hard to connect with Jordan one of her friends in that side. My neighbor here is Gatsby a man that has recently moved here and he loves to hold so many parties and he is also in love with daisy. Daisy in chapter one I was just in the house relaxing with my girlfriend Jordan who loves playing golf, my cousin Nick who went to Yale with my husband Tom and were members of the same social club came to visit me. We are all gathered and Tom is telling us about colonialism where he quotes his explanation from The Rise of the Colored Empires, we are all having fun until Tom is disrupted by a phone call which I suspect is from his lover. This changes the mood in the house and after dinner everyone opts to leave but is I suggest to Nick to court Jordan, they would look so great together. Tom in chapter two We are just walking around with...
Words: 544 - Pages: 3
